Prop it up

I'm currently working on a flower story for our next issue of Brides Colorado, asking florists to tell us about their favorite bouquet-and-boutonniere pairings of the last year. Floral designer Erin Hornstein, of Plum Sage Flowers, sent me some great photos of the stunning arrangements from her own wedding, which took place last June at Devil's Thumb Ranch. You'll be able to check out those photos in the magazine, but I couldn't resist sharing this shot of the orchid "umbrella" Erin designed specifically for her portrait session. "It was such a fun prop, and the yellow orchids coincidentally picked up the gold dandelion tones in the field," she says. "At the reception, we placed it on a table for display."

Even if you don't have Erin's floral design prowess, bringing along a simple prop (for example, a balloon, pinwheels, a parasol, or a tandem bike) for your wedding day portrait session is a great idea—it can add a pop of color to the images, and make the shoot more interactive (meaning you'll feel less self-conscious). —Lauren Matthews, editor, Brides Colorado